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India’s air cargo sector has achieved a major milestone, handling a record 3.72 million metric tonnes (MMT) in FY2024-25, underlining the country’s growing prominence in global trade and logistics. The achievement marks a 47 percent rise compared to 2.53 MMT recorded a decade ago in FY2014-15, reflecting sustained investments in aviation infrastructure, policy reforms, and regional connectivity initiatives.
The sharp rise in cargo volumes comes at a time when India is positioning itself as a strategic logistics hub for Asia-Pacific trade flows. Industry observers note that the growth has been supported by expanding e-commerce demand, rising pharmaceutical exports, perishables movement, and increasing integration of Indian manufacturers into global supply chains.
Cargo operations are now active across 74 airports nationwide, significantly broadening the country’s air freight network. The government, along with the Airports Authority of India, has accelerated investments in warehousing capacity, cargo terminal modernisation, and multimodal logistics integration to support the sector’s expansion.
Major infrastructure projects are expected to further strengthen capacity over the next few years. Upcoming greenfield airports at Noida International Airport and Navi Mumbai International Airport are developing large-scale cargo handling facilities aimed at reducing congestion at existing metro airports and improving regional cargo distribution. At the same time, AAI Cargo Logistics and Allied Services Company (AAICLAS) is modernising terminals at strategic locations including Srinagar, Dehradun, Dibrugarh, Dimapur, Vijayawada, and Jodhpur.
Policy support has also emerged as a key growth enabler. One of the long-standing challenges for Tier-II and Tier-III airports has been the cost burden associated with customs operations. To address this issue, the government has introduced a reimbursement mechanism for customs deployment expenses at 27 airports, including 15 dedicated cargo terminals, during the 2024-27 period. The initiative is expected to improve the financial viability of smaller cargo gateways and promote decentralised trade growth across regional India.
The momentum appears set to continue. Official figures indicate that India had already handled 2.98 MMT of air cargo by December of the current fiscal year, placing the sector on course for another record performance.
Globally, air cargo demand also remains resilient. According to the International Air Transport Association, worldwide air cargo volumes touched record levels in 2025, supported by strong international trade activity and growing cross-border e-commerce.
For India, the latest milestone signals more than just rising freight volumes. It reflects the country’s broader ambition to become a globally competitive logistics and manufacturing hub backed by modern infrastructure, policy-driven reforms, and stronger regional connectivity.
𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐓𝐮𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 https://cargoconnect.co.in/ 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬!
India’s air cargo sector has achieved a major milestone, handling a record 3.72 million metric tonnes (MMT) in FY2024-25, underlining the country’s growing prominence in global trade and logistics. The achievement marks a 47 percent rise compared to 2.53 MMT recorded a decade ago in FY2014-15, reflecting sustained investments in aviation infrastructure, policy reforms, and regional connectivity initiatives. The sharp rise in cargo volumes comes at a time when India is positioning itself as a strategic logistics hub for Asia-Pacific trade flows. Industry observers note that the growth has been supported by expanding e-commerce demand, rising pharmaceutical exports, perishables movement, and increasing integration of Indian manufacturers into global supply chains. Cargo operations are now active across 74 airports nationwide, significantly broadening the country’s air freight network. The government, along with the Airports Authority of India, has accelerated investments in warehousing capacity, cargo terminal modernisation, and multimodal logistics integration to support the sector’s expansion. Major infrastructure projects are expected to further strengthen capacity over the next few years. Upcoming greenfield airports at Noida International Airport and Navi Mumbai International Airport are developing large-scale cargo handling facilities aimed at reducing congestion at existing metro airports and improving regional cargo distribution. At the same time, AAI Cargo Logistics and Allied Services Company (AAICLAS) is modernising terminals at strategic locations including Srinagar, Dehradun, Dibrugarh, Dimapur, Vijayawada, and Jodhpur. Policy support has also emerged as a key growth enabler. One of the long-standing challenges for Tier-II and Tier-III airports has been the cost burden associated with customs operations. To address this issue, the government has introduced a reimbursement mechanism for customs deployment expenses at 27 airports, including 15 dedicated cargo terminals, during the 2024-27 period. The initiative is expected to improve the financial viability of smaller cargo gateways and promote decentralised trade growth across regional India. The momentum appears set to continue. Official figures indicate that India had already handled 2.98 MMT of air cargo by December of the current fiscal year, placing the sector on course for another record performance. Globally, air cargo demand also remains resilient. According to the International Air Transport Association, worldwide air cargo volumes touched record levels in 2025, supported by strong international trade activity and growing cross-border e-commerce. For India, the latest milestone signals more than just rising freight volumes. It reflects the country’s broader ambition to become a globally competitive logistics and manufacturing hub backed by modern infrastructure, policy-driven reforms, and stronger regional connectivity. 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐓𝐮𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 https://cargoconnect.co.in/ 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬!
Glasgow Prestwick Airport has surpassed the milestone of exporting one million kilograms of Scottish salmon since January 2026, highlighting the growing strength of the airport’s temperature-controlled seafood logistics operations. The achievement follows the launch of Prestwick’s dedicated Scotland-to-China seafood export service last September, supported by investments in specialised cool-chain infrastructure, temperature-controlled handling systems and dedicated personnel for perishable cargo operations. The airport’s seafood export ecosystem now includes high-capacity metal detection systems, advanced temperature monitoring and tracking technologies, along with 87 tonnes of chiller capacity designed to support time-sensitive exports. According to Ian Forgie, Chief Executive Officer, Glasgow Prestwick Airport the milestone demonstrates increasing confidence among seafood exporters in Prestwick’s ability to provide faster and more resilient market access for premium Scottish produce. "Every hour saved between the catch and final market helps protect quality, shelf life, and value for exporters, and that is exactly where Prestwick can make a difference," he noted. The cargo growth has also been supported by expanded freighter connectivity with Asia. Air China Cargo recently increased its Prestwick–Chengdu cargo services from four weekly flights to daily operations, taking the airport’s total direct cargo flights to mainland China to 15 per week. Additionally, Ethiopian Airlines introduced three new weekly Hong Kong cargo flights earlier this month, further strengthening Prestwick’s position as a strategic gateway connecting Scottish exports to high-growth Asian markets including South Korea and Vietnam. The development reinforces the growing role of air cargo infrastructure and cold-chain logistics in supporting Scotland’s premium seafood export industry and enhancing supply chain resilience across international trade corridors.
CMA CGM Group has launched a new Paris–Hanoi freighter service, reinforcing the growing strategic importance of Vietnam in global manufacturing and supply chain networks. The dedicated Boeing 777F operation connects Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport with Hanoi’s Noi Bai International Airport, with a return routing via Navoiy, Uzbekistan, enhancing cargo connectivity between Southeast Asia and Europe. The inaugural flight departed on May 9, marking another step in CMA CGM Air Cargo’s long-haul expansion strategy as shippers increasingly diversify sourcing and production activities beyond China. Vietnam has emerged as a critical export hub for electronics, textiles, footwear, industrial machinery and e-commerce products, driving sustained air cargo demand on Europe-bound trade lanes. The new service is expected to provide supply chain planners and freight forwarders with additional capacity and greater schedule reliability at a time when manufacturers are seeking resilient and multimodal logistics solutions. Industry analysts note that Vietnam’s role in global supply chains has accelerated due to continued foreign direct investment, expanding manufacturing clusters and the rapid growth of cross-border e-commerce. By integrating Hanoi into its freighter network, CMA CGM is also strengthening its end-to-end logistics strategy, combining ocean shipping, air freight and inland transport services under a unified supply chain offering. The move aligns with the group’s broader ambition to become a fully integrated logistics player capable of offering agile transport solutions for high-value and time-sensitive cargo. The routing through Navoiy further highlights the increasing importance of Central Asia as a transit and technical hub connecting Europe and Asia. The Uzbekistan stopover enables operational flexibility while supporting wider regional cargo connectivity. The deployment of the Boeing 777F on the route underscores CMA CGM Air Cargo’s focus on long-range, high-capacity freighter operations. The aircraft is widely used in global air cargo networks for transporting high-volume industrial shipments, electronics and e-commerce cargo efficiently across intercontinental trade lanes. As supply chains continue shifting toward Southeast Asia, the launch of the Paris–Hanoi service positions CMA CGM to capture growing trade flows between European consumption markets and Vietnam’s export-driven manufacturing economy. The added freighter capacity is likely to benefit exporters, logistics providers and multinational manufacturers seeking faster and more resilient cargo connectivity between Asia and Europe. 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭: https://cargoconnect.co.in/ for latest news!
